Melissa Manchester was born in the Bronx on February 15, 1951 to her mother, a homemaker and her father who was a bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera. She began singing commercial jingles at age 15 and went on to become a staff writer for Chappell Music while attending the High School of the Performing Arts. After taking a songwriting class at New York University taught by Paul Simon, Manchester took her talents to the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow; the two hired her as a backup singer in 1971. She recorded her debut album, Home to Myself, in 1973, co-writing many of the songs with Carole Bayer Sager. 1975 Melissa produced her first Top Ten hit, Midnight Blue, and set the tone for most of her career with its direct, slickly produced MOR pop sound. She and Kenny Loggins co-wrote the latter’s1978 duet hit with Stevie Nicks, Whenever I Call You Friend, and the following year, Manchester returned to the Top Ten with Don’t Cry Out Loud. 1980 saw Manchester become the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for Academy Awards (Ice Castles and The Promise); two years later her highest Billboard singles chart placing with the number five hit You Should Hear How She Talks About You, which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. Through the ‘80s and ‘90s, Manchester has alternated occasional recording with scriptwriting, appearing with Bette Midler in “For the Boys” and on the television series “Blossom” as the character’s birth mother. In spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years, When I Look Down the Road, which included collaborations with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Keb’ Mo, market her first proper release with Koch.

TICKET PRICE:  $27–$67